Pennsylvania Assembly Quotes

Context

This line was written by Benjamin Franklin in the Pennsylvania Assembly's Reply to the Governor (1755). It is documented in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), pp. 19–21.

Here's a more relatable (and tasty) way of putting this quote: "If you gave your ice cream cone to your big brother expecting him to give you a donut when you get home, then you're so foolish you don't deserve either of them. This is because your cone is now gone, and there is no donut!"

There's some debate about whether Franklin was referring to civil liberties or legislative rights (in the context of the time). After a few hundred years, civil liberties is the interpretation that sticks. Don't mess with our rights, man. You think we're gonna trade 'em for the possibility of better security?

To paraphrase Franklin, "Uh uh. Wouldst thou trade your birthright for a hollow promise? Methinks this would be folly!"

Or if you don't like paraphrasing, you can read the real thing here.

Where you've heard it

Ah, this quote creates so much fodder for political talk shows. The pros and cons of Franklin's statement are still being debated today and, like cat videos, they're not going away.

An altered version of the text is also in the pedestal stairwell of the Statue of Liberty: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This is a dinner party, not a political party. We're heading over to the fun crowd in the kitchen to crack some jokes and suck on helium balloons.